The Pax bin Ladenis is over before it really began. The first hours after the killing of al-Qaeda’s leader brought speculation about a new era of national purpose, like the one following the Sept. 11 attacks. It is a sign of how dysfunctional our politics have become that lawmakers are too preoccupied with their opponents to celebrate the demise of their common enemy.
Senate Democrats made clear that, after passing a ceremonial resolution about bin Laden’s demise, they would return to skirmishing over oil company subsidies and judicial nominees. House Republicans signaled that they would proceed with divisive legislation on oil drilling, abortion and undoing health-care reform.
House GOP leaders decided against a resolution congratulating the U.S. military, citing a party rule against such resolutions. (Never mind that they have broken the rule before.) Republican presidential contenders, meanwhile, are proceeding with Thursday’s debate, which a spokesman for candidate Tim Pawlenty told The Post’s Chris Cillizza is an “opportunity to make the case against President Obama.”
What lull there was in partisan sniping lasted about half a day.
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